DOCSLIB.ORG

Funnel Trap As a Method for Capture Migrating Bats in Pape, Latvia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Funnel Trap As a Method for Capture Migrating Bats in Pape, Latvia Environmental and Experimental Biology (2021) 19: 7–10 Brief Communication http://doi.org/10.22364/eeb.19.02 Funnel trap as a method for capture migrating bats in Pape, Latvia Oskars Keišs1*, Donats Spalis1, Gunārs Pētersons2 ISSN 2255-9582 1Laboratory of Ornithology, Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, Jelgavas 1, Rīga LV–1004, Latvia 2Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Kristapa Helmaņa 8, Jelgava LV–3004, Latvia *Corresponding author, E-mail: [email protected] Abstract We constructed a large funnel trap on the coast of the Baltic Sea on dunes of Pape village, Latvia. The trap has been used during the peak autumn migration of bats in Latvia in August and September. During the period of 2014 – 2020, about 40 thousand bats were captured in the trap, mostly Nathusius’ Pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii, about 35 thousand individuals. In migration hotspots of bats, this is suggested method of trapping since large number of bats might be trapped without entangling bats in mist-nets. Key words: bat migration, funnel Heligoland trap, Pipistrellus nathusii. Introduction bats could be observed and captured in great numbers in the trap (Celmiņš et al. 1986). Harp traps for bats (Tuttle Research on bird and bat migration usually includes also 1974; Masing 1989) were built inside the final tunnel of capture of animals. A problem with bird captures with the Rybatschi trap, but they were relatively ineffective in mist nets often arises when there are several hundred birds entangled in one mist-net and the capacity of ringers is limited. Bats during migration are usually scarce and there are too few captured due to lower concentrations of bats and higher migration altitude (mist nets are usually limited to 2 m above the ground). A funnel trap for bird research was first built on Heligoland Island, Germany in 1920 by Dr. Hugo Weigold (Weigold 1922; Weigold 1924; Weigold 1956; Woodford, Hussel 1961) and therefore later funnel traps for bird trapping have often been referred as “Heligoland traps”. However, funnel traps were constructed previously for trapping thrushes (Turdus spp.) for food (Gatke 1895). In 1957 in Rybatschi Ornithological station (former Vogelwarte Rossitten of Germany) on the Curonian Spit, a large Heligoland trap was designed and built by Jānis Jakšis and team of the station (Belopolskii 1961). This large Heligoland trap is also referred to as the “Rybatschi trap” (Payevsky 2000). Survey of the best place for establishing a bird observatory in Latvia for research of autumn migration of birds was done in autumn of 1958 (Mihelsons et al. 1960). The results of a month of observations between September 15 and October 15 indicated two locations with considerable bird concentrations: Salacgrīva and Pape (Fig. 1). The Bird Observatory at the Baltic Sea coast Fig. 1. Estimated numbers of migrating Passerine birds at coastal in Pape village was established in 1966 (Blūms et al. 1966; locations of Latvia, autumn 1958, when the choice to establish Baumanis 1995) and the first Rybatschi type trap was built Ornithological station in Pape was made (redrawn after Mihelsons in 1968. However, in 1985 it was noticed that also migrating et al. 1960). 7 O. Keišs. D. Spalis, G. Pētersons Fig. 2. Scheme of the trap build in Pape in 2014 for bat trapping (drawing by Reinis Priedols). comparison to active trapping of bats flying in the tunnel removed in the middle of September. The trap can be lifted by butterfly net (Pētersons 2004). for catching, and lowered during storms, by six winches. Of the six poles with height 15 m, one broke in the 6th year of Construction of the funnel trap usage in 2019 (during a storm on September 10 when the trap was installed and lowered). This pole was replaced in An overall scheme of a Helgoland trap was published by 2020 before the beginning of the season. Woodford and Hussel (1961), but each Helgoland type and Rybatschy type trap varies depending on the local Scientific use of the trap relief and other characteristics of the surroundings and possibilities. The trap we designed and constructed in The trap has been very successful in capture of migrating 2014 in Pape, Latvia was aimed at bat capture during the bats. The total number of captured individuals of 15 bat autumn migration in August – September (before autumn species during the period 2014 – 2020 was 40 896 (Table storm season starts at the Baltic Sea). At the entrance it 1). The only Latvian bat species captured in Pape before was 15 m high and the end corridor was 2.0 m high; the this trap was build, in 1988 (Pētersons, Celmiņš 1989), width of the trap at the entrance was 35 m and 1.5 m at but not during the period of 2014 – 2020, was the greater the end corridor (Fig. 2). The mesh size was 18 × 18 mm at mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis). The majority of the the beginning of the trap, 12 × 12 mm at the end corridor captured individuals (35 396) were Nathusius’ pipistrelles and 8 × 8 mm at the end box in order to prevent birds and (Pipistrellus nathusii), with maximum captures being 14 bats of smaller species to escape through the mesh at the 171 in 2018 (Table 1). On average during this period (2014 end of the trap. The trap was attached to six poles 15 m – 2020) there were more captures per year (5842) than ever high and two poles 3 m high (Fig. 3 and 4), produced in previously, up to 3975 in 1990 (Pētersons 2004), on average Latvia (“Jauda-Koks”, LV–5060 Suntaži) for electrical wires. 2546 per year (1988 – 1991). These data are given here only The poles are stationary in the field all year round, but the as an example, since explicit analyses of bat migration data trap is installed each year at the beginning of August and are given in specific articles (e.g., Petersons 2004; Lindecke 8 Funnel trap as a method for capture migrating bats Fig. 3. Pape trap from above (photo by Jasja Dekker). Fig. 4. Pape trap from Eastern (inland) side (photo by Gunārs Pētersons). 9 O. Keišs. D. Spalis, G. Pētersons Table 1. Number of bat species and individuals captured in the Pape trap in 2014 – 2020 Species / species group 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Total 2014 – 2020 Pipistrellus nathusii 1596 2172 4864 2038 14171 6583 3972 35396 Pipistrellus pipistrellus – – – 5 1 – – 6 P. pipistrellus / pygmaeus – – 1 – – – – 1 Pipistrellus pygmaeus 83 222 741 421 529 1171 595 3762 Nyctalus noctula 4 7 32 32 75 270 39 459 Nyctalus leisleri – 1 – – – 5 – 6 Vespertilio murinus 14 17 76 110 261 329 53 860 Eptesicus nilssonii 2 4 22 55 25 46 18 172 Eptesicus serotinus 2 1 1 3 8 7 2 24 Myotis dasycneme – 2 1 – – – – 3 Myotis daubentonii 2 2 7 9 7 10 12 49 Myotis brandtii 1 3 7 9 11 12 4 47 Myotis mystacinus 2 – 1 4 2 9 Myotis nattereri 1 2 2 5 9 14 5 38 Barbastella barbastellus – 1 3 2 3 2 – 11 Plecotus auritus 4 1 5 9 5 25 4 53 Total: 1709 2437 5762 2698 15106 8478 4706 40896 et al. 2019). bat migration in Pape in the autumn of 1985. Retie augi un Acknowledgements dzīvnieki 1986: 52–58. /in Latvian/ Gatke H. 1895. The Birds of Heligoland. Edinburgh, Scotland. We thank late Dr. Jānis Baumanis (1940 – 2006) for being the Lindecke O., Elksne A., Holland R.A., Pētersons G., Voigt C.C. soul and leader of the Pape station for 40 years (1966 – 2006). The 2019. Orientation and flight behaviour identify the Soprano trap construction in 2014 was financed by the Leibniz Institute pipistrelle as a migratory bat species at the Baltic Sea coast. J. for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-Instituts für Zoo- und Zool. 308: 56–65. Wildtierforschung, Berlin, Germany), principal investigator Mihelsons H., Kasparsons Ģ. Lejiņš G., Vīksne J., Šmits V., Lipsbergs Dr. Christian C. Voigt, and implemented by us – Institute of J., Stolbovs I. 1960. Bird migrations in the Latvian SSR in the Biology, University of Latvia. We thank all involved personal and autumn of 1958. Latvijas Putnu dzīve – Ornitoloģiskie pētījumi numerous volunteers during all the years as well as our families 2. Latvijas PSR Zinātņu akadēmijas Bioloģijas institūta raksti for support during our fieldwork. We acknowledge Ivo Dinsbergs, XIV: 139–192. /in Latvian/ Ivars Kalvāns and Reinis Priedols for the drawings (Figures 1 and Payevsky V.A. 2000. Rybachy-type trap. In: Busse P. (ed.) Bird 2) and Jasja Dekker for the aerial image of the trap. Station Manual. Gdańsk University Press, Gdańsk, pp. 20–24. Pētersons G. 2004. Seasonal migrations of North-Eastern References populations of Nathusius bat Pipistrellus nathusii (Chiroptera). Myotis 41–42: 29–56. Baumanis J. 1995. Monitoring of migratory land birds in Pape Pētersons G., Celmiņš A. 1989. The greater mouse-eared batMyotis seashore. Report of the Institute of Biology of the Latvian myotis Borkhausen – a new species in the Latvian fauna. Retie Academy of Sciences to the Environmental Consultation augi un dzīvnieki 1989: 24–27. /in Latvian/ and Monitoring Center of the Ministry of Environment and Tuttle M.D. 1974. An improved trap for bats. J. Mammal. 55: 475– Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia. 24 p. /in 477. Latvian/ Weigold H. 1922. Die wissenschaftliche Vogelfangstation zu Belopolskii L.O. 1961. Activity of Biological Station of the Institute Helgoland. Naturwissenschaften 44: 960–964. of Zoology Acdemy of Sciences USSR 1956–1959. In: Ecology Weigold H. 1924. VII. Bericht der Vogelwarte der Staatl. and Migration of Baltic Birds.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • And Wildlife, 1928-72
    Bibliography of Research Publications of the U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, 1928-72 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE RESOURCE PUBLICATION 120 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS OF THE U.S. BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE, 1928-72 Edited by Paul H. Eschmeyer, Division of Fishery Research Van T. Harris, Division of Wildlife Research Resource Publication 120 Published by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Washington, B.C. 1974 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Eschmeyer, Paul Henry, 1916 Bibliography of research publications of the U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, 1928-72. (Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Kesource publication 120) Supt. of Docs. no.: 1.49.66:120 1. Fishes Bibliography. 2. Game and game-birds Bibliography. 3. Fish-culture Bibliography. 4. Fishery management Bibliogra­ phy. 5. Wildlife management Bibliography. I. Harris, Van Thomas, 1915- joint author. II. United States. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. III. Title. IV. Series: United States Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Resource publication 120. S914.A3 no. 120 [Z7996.F5] 639'.9'08s [016.639*9] 74-8411 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing OfTie Washington, D.C. Price $2.30 Stock Number 2410-00366 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS OF THE U.S. BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE, 1928-72 INTRODUCTION This bibliography comprises publications in fishery and wildlife research au­ thored or coauthored by research scientists of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife and certain predecessor agencies. Separate lists, arranged alphabetically by author, are given for each of 17 fishery research and 6 wildlife research labora­ tories, stations, investigations, or centers.
    [Show full text]
  • Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research
    THE ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL Providing Scientific Information about Birds GUIDELINES TO THE USE OF WILD BIRDS IN RESEARCH Special Publication 1997 Edited by Abbot S. Gaunt & Lewis W. Oring Third Edition 2010 Edited by Jeanne M. Fair, Editor-in-Chief Ellen Paul & Jason Jones, Associate Editors GUIDELINES TO THE USE OF WILD BIRDS IN RESEARCH Jeanne M. Fair1, Ellen Paul2, & Jason Jones3, Anne Barrett Clark4, Clara Davie4, Gary Kaiser5 1 Los Alamos National Laboratory, Atmospheric, Climate and Environmental Dynamics, MS J495, Los Alamos, NM 87506 2 Ornithological Council, 1107 17th St., N.W., Suite 250, Washington, D.C. 20036 3 Tetra Tech EC, 133 Federal Street, 6th floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 4 Binghamton University State University of New York, Department of Biology, PO BOX 6000 Binghamton, NY 13902-6000 5 402-3255 Glasgow Ave, Victoria, BC V8X 4S4, Canada Copyright 1997, 2010 by THE ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL 1107 17th Street, N.W. Suite 250 Washington, D.C. 20036 http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET Suggested citation Fair, J., E. Paul, and J. Jones, Eds. 2010. Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research. Washington, D.C.: Ornithological Council. Revision date August 2010 2 Dedication The Ornithological Council dedicates this 2010 revision to Lewis W. Oring and the late Abbot (Toby) S. Gaunt, whose commitment to the well-being of the birds for whom ornithologists share a deep and abiding concern has served our profession well for so many years. Toby Gaunt Lew Oring Revision date August 2010 3 Acknowledgments and disclaimer Third edition The Ornithological Council thanks the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare of the National Institutes of Health for their financial support for the production of this revision.
    [Show full text]
  • AN EVALUATION of TECHNIQUES for CAPTURING RAPTORS in EAST-CENTRAL MINNESOTA by Mark R
    AN EVALUATION OF TECHNIQUES FOR CAPTURING RAPTORS IN EAST-CENTRAL MINNESOTA by Mark R. Fuller and Glenn S. Christenson Department of Ecologyand BehavioralBiology University of Minnesota 310 Biological SciencesCenter St. Paul, Minnesota 55108 ABSTRACT. To meet the objectivesof a study,several species of raptorshad to be trapped on a 9,880-hectare study area of heterogenoushabitat types. Bal-chatri,mist net, Swedish Goshawk,and automatic bow-net traps (and combinationsof these traps) were used in severalgeneral habitat situations.Mist nets combined with a baited bal-chatri or tethered bait were most successfulin capturingbirds, and the bal-chatrisalone and mist nets alone were next most effective. Trappingwas found to be most productivein deciduousupland habitats where an openingin the canopy or break in the understoryoccurred. Trapping along a woodlot-fieldedge was also effective. Strigiformeswere most often trappedjust before sunriseor just after sunset,while falconiformeswere most often capturedin the late morning and late afternoon. Trapping was least efficient from Decemberto February. A different trap type from that i•sedin the initial captureis often most effectivefor recaptur- ing raptors.Maintenance of healthybait animalsand frequent trap checksare emphasized. Introduction This paperpresents results from a combinationof methodsused to captureand recapture Great HornedOwls (Bubo virginianus), Barred Owls (Strix varia),Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo }amaicensis),and Broad-wingedHawks (Buteo platypterus) on a 9,880-hectarestudy area in east-central
    [Show full text]
  • Filed Techniques-Bats
    Expedition Field Techniques BATS Kate Barlow Geography Outdoors: the centre supporting field research, exploration and outdoor learning Royal Geographical Society with IBG 1 Kensington Gore London SW7 2AR Tel +44 (0)20 7591 3030 Fax +44 (0)20 7591 3031 Email [email protected] Website www.rgs.org/go October 1999 ISBN 978-0-907649-82-3 Cover illustration: A Noctilio leporinus mist-netted during an expedition, FFI Montserrat Biodiversity Project 1995, by Dave Fawcett. Courtesy of Kate Jones, and taken from the cover of her thesis entitled ‘Evolution of bat life histories’, University of Surrey. Expedition Field Techniques BATS CONTENTS Acknowledgements Preface Section One: Bats and Fieldwork 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Literature Reviews 3 1.3 Licences 3 1.4 Health and Safety 4 1.4.1 Hazards associated with bats 5 1.5 Ethics 6 1.6 Project Planning 6 Section Two: Capture Techniques 8 2.1 Introduction 8 2.2 Catching bats 8 2.2.1 Mist-nets 8 2.2.2 Mist-net placement 10 2.2.3 Harp-traps 12 2.2.4 Harp-trap placement 13 2.2.5 Comparison of mist-net and harp-traps 13 2.2.6 Hand-netting for bats 14 2.3 Sampling for bats 14 Section Three: Survey Techniques 18 3.1 Introduction 18 3.2 Surveys at roosts 18 3.2.1 Emergence counts 18 3.2.2 Roost counts 19 3.3 Population estimates 20 Expedition Field Techniques Section Four: Processing Bats 22 4.1 Handling bats 22 4.1.1 Removing bats from mist-nets 22 4.1.2 Handling bats 24 4.2 Assessment of age and reproductive status 25 4.3 Measuring bats 26 4.4 Identification 28 4.5 Data recording 29 Section Five: Specimen Preparation
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 3. Capture and Marking
    CHAPTER 3. CAPTURE AND MARKING A. Overview Scientific studies of birds often require that birds be captured to gather morphometric data and to collect samples for pathological, genetic, and biogeochemical analysis. These data and samples can be used to understand evolutionary relationships, genetics, population structure and dynamics, comparative anatomy and physiology, adaptation, behavior, parasites and diseases, geographic distributions, migration, and the general ecology of wild populations of birds. This knowledge informs us about avian biology and natural history and is necessary to effect science-based conservation and management policies for game and non-game species, endangered species, economically important species, and bird habitat conservation (White and Garrott 1990). Capture is generally necessary to mark birds, which allows scientists to investigate demography, migration/movement patterns, or identify specific individuals after release (Day et al. 1980). Many techniques have been developed to capture and mark birds (Nietfeld et al. 1994; Bub 1995). The assumption that marking does not affect the birds is critical because it is the basis for generalizing the data to unmarked birds (Murray and Fuller 2000). The purpose of this section is not to describe capture and marking techniques, but instead to discuss the effects that different capture and marking techniques have on a bird’s short- and long-term physiological well-being and survival. The more commonly used methods are covered and described briefly, but the focus is on the potential impacts of the method. Thus, even if a particular method is not covered, the researcher is alerted to concerns that may arise and questions to be considered in refining methods so as to reduce impacts.
    [Show full text]
  • NFBB Vol. 32 1957
    Howard L. Cogswell, Mills College, Oakland, Calif. Russel H. Pray, 662 Santa Rosa Ave., Berkeley, Calif. William K. Kirsher, .571 Fulton Ave., Sacramento, Calif. Lillian Henningson, 124 Cambridge Way, Piedmont, Calif. Address contributions for the N~VS to William K. Kirsher, F~itor-- .571 Fulton Avenue Sacramento 2.5, California PAGE EIGHTEEN THOUSAND AND FOUR CLIFF SWALLOWS by William K. Kirsher. 1 MIST NETS LEGALIZED IN CALIFORNIA. • . 4 MIST NET SUPPLIERS . • . • . • . 6 GULL BANDING IN THE KI~~TH by Carl Richardson • 7 NEVlS FROM TIIEBANDERS. 9 CHAPTER NOTES. • • • . • . • . • 10 EIGHTEEN THOUSAND AND FOUR CLIFF SWALLOWS b:{William K. Kirsher In the flat agricultural lands around Sacramento, California where in prlml- tive times Cliff swallows (petrochelidon p;trrhonota) must have been hard put to find nesting sites, today there are man-made structures that admirably fill the bird's needs for sheltered, elevated purchases for their mud nests. The species now populates the valley abundantly. Colonies are often found in culverts and under small bridges, some no higher than a man's head. In these, by working at night when all the birds are at the nest, practically the whole colony can be trapped by simultaneously closing both openings of the structure with large fish nets. Most of the m,allows flush at the first disturbance, fluttering to the nets where they are easily captured by hand. There are always a few reluctant ones that have to be flushed by shining a bright light (which the bander wears on his forehead) into the nest as he claps his hands and makes hissing sounds and other noises.
    [Show full text]
  • BIRD SHOOTING and TRAPPING in MALTA: a TRADITIONAL SPORTS? Natalino Fenech
    BIRD SHOOTING AND TRAPPING IN MALTA: A TRADITIONAL SPORTS? Natalino Fenech hether bird shooting and trapping are traditions and whether Wthey can be justified, are two different questions. For an activity to be accepted, it does not have to be traditional. On the other hand, traditional activities may become unacceptable as the values of society change. Even so, one has to establish whether what some people call 'traditional' is in fact traditional. Hobsbawm states that '''Traditions'' which appear or claim to be old are often quite recent in origin and sometimes invented. "Invented tradition" is taken to mean a set of practices which seek to inculcate certain values and norms of behaviour by repetition, which automatically implies continuity with the past. In fact, where possible, they normally attempt to establish continuity with a suitable historic past.'! Hunters and trappers frequently claim that their pastimes are 'traditional sports', hence they are more then justified in practising them. They claim that man was always a hunter. If man was always a hunter, all men should be hunters, not just in Malta but worldwide. As it is, hunters are a small minority of any population. Table 1 shows statistics for some European countries. Malta has the highest density of shooters and the highest percentage of the population who own a shooting licence. Yet, the number of hunters is under 5 per cent of the population, a far cry than what it should be if the 'man the hunter' instinct is anything to go by. Hunting in Malta's History A cursory glance through Malta's history is sufficient to show that the claim that hunting is a traditional sport is unfounded.
    [Show full text]
  • Tape Lures Swell Bycatch on a Mediterranean Island Harbouring Illegal Bird Trapping
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.13.991034; this version posted March 15, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. 1 Tape lures swell bycatch on a Mediterranean island 2 harbouring illegal bird trapping 3 Matteo Sebastianelli1, Georgios Savva1, Michaella Moysi1, and 4 Alexander N. G. Kirschel1* 5 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, PO Box 20537, Nicosia 1678, 6 Cyprus 7 8 Keywords: Cyprus, illegal bird hunting, Sylvia atricapilla, Sylvia melanocephala, playback 9 experiment, warbler. 10 *Email of corresponding author: [email protected] 11 12 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.13.991034; this version posted March 15, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. 13 Abstract 14 Mediterranean islands are critical for migrating birds, providing shelter and sustenance 15 for millions of individuals each year. Humans have long exploited bird migration 16 through hunting and illegal trapping. On the island of Cyprus, trapping birds during 17 their migratory peak is considered a local tradition, but has long been against the law. 18 Illegal bird trapping is a lucrative business, however, with trappers using tape lures that 19 broadcast species’ vocalizations because it is expected to increase numbers of target 20 species.
    [Show full text]
  • Capturing Birds with Mist Nets: a Review
    Capturingbirds with mist nets: A review Brt•mE. Keyesand Chr/sflanE. Grue provementshave been made in their design.These in- heovermist 300netyears was agodeveloped as a techniquebyJapanese for capturing hunters clude a choiceof smallerand larger meshsizes and the birds for food (Austin1947, Spencer 1972). Today mist replacementof cotton,silk, and nylon webbing with netsare undoubtedlythe mostcommonly used method monofilamentnylon and terylenefor increasedstrength for capturingbirds for research(Spencer 1972). As a and durability.Mist netswith a varietyof specifications result, many improvementsand modificationsin mist are now available commercially.Consult recent issues nets and their use have been suggestedby nettersfor of thisand otherornithological iournals for suppliers. particularspecies and habitats.With a few exceptions, Black mist nets are used most often since this color thisinformation is widely scatteredthroughout the orni- absorbsrather than reflectslight. However, othercolors thologicalliterature. Low (1957)has describedbasic mist-netoperations. Methods for mist-nettingin adverse are available for specifichabitat conditions.For exam- weatherconditions or particularhabitats have been de- ple,fine sand-colored nets have been effective in cap- turing shorebirdsin open-beachareas (Bleitz 1961). scribedby Bleitz (1970)and Spencer(1972). The most Pale green-aqua,dark green, dark brown, and white comprehensivereviews of mist-nettingtechniques pres- netshave alsobeen usedsuccessfully in marshes,for- ently available to netters are those of Wilson et al. ests and fields, mud flats, and snow-covered areas, re- (1965]and Bub (1967].In this paper we provide a re- spectively(Bleitz 1962b, 1964). view suitablefor both novice and experiencednetters emphasizingNorth Americanbird speciesand habitats. Various net sizes are also available. The standard mist net measuresabout 2 x 9 m (7 x 30 ft).
    [Show full text]
  • A National Review of the Status of Trapping for Bird Control
    A NATIONAL REVIEW OF THE STATUS OF TRAPPING FOR BIRD CONTROL W. PAUL GORENZEL, and TERRELL P. SALMON, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616. A. CHARLES CRABB, College of Agriculture, California State University, Chico, California 95929-0310. ABSTRACT: We examined the status of trapping to control bird damage based on a nation-wide questionnaire, literature, and on-site visits of trapping programs. We mailed 464 questionnaires to Agriculture Commissioners in California, Cooperative Extension Wildlife Specialists, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services personnel, state Department of Agriculture personnel, and members of the National Animal Damage Control Association. Two hundred fifty questionnaires (54%) were returned from 50 states, 1 territory, and 51 California counties. Fifty-four percent of the respondents indicated they either trap, monitor, or provide infonnation on bird trapping. Regarding specific activities, 49% actively trapped while 43% provided information only. By affiliation, 90% of private respondents trapped, followed by 60% of federal respondents. Respondents listed 53 species of birds causing damage. Cited most often were rock doves (Columbo livia), European starlings (Stumus vulgaris), blackbirds, Canada geese (Branta canadensis), American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos), house finch (Carpodacus me.xicanus), and house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Respondents listed 52 crops, 18 types of animal production facilities, and 16 non-crop sites that were subject to bird damage. Respondents listed 25 species that were trapped. Modified Australian crow traps, walk-in traps, and drive traps were used most frequently. Most respondents (80%) rated trapping as moderate to excellent for ducks, geese, rock doves, and house sparrows. Trapping for starlings was rated as moderate to excellent by 75% of private­ industry respondents (mostly non-agricultural damage), but 80% of California county returns (dealing mostly with agricultural damage) rated it as slight.
    [Show full text]
  • Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research
    THE ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL Providing Scientific Information about Birds GUIDELINES TO THE USE OF WILD BIRDS IN RESEARCH Special Publication 1997 Edited by Abbot S. Gaunt & Lewis W. Oring Third Edition 2010 Edited by Jeanne M. Fair, Editor-in-Chief Ellen Paul & Jason Jones, Associate Editors GUIDELINES TO THE USE OF WILD BIRDS IN RESEARCH Jeanne M. Fair1, Ellen Paul2, & Jason Jones3, Anne Barrett Clark4, Clara Davie4, Gary Kaiser5 1 Los Alamos National Laboratory, Atmospheric, Climate and Environmental Dynamics, MS J495, Los Alamos, NM 87506 2 Ornithological Council, 1107 17th St., N.W., Suite 250, Washington, D.C. 20036 3 Tetra Tech EC, 133 Federal Street, 6th floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 4 Binghamton University State University of New York, Department of Biology, PO BOX 6000 Binghamton, NY 13902-6000 5 402-3255 Glasgow Ave, Victoria, BC V8X 4S4, Canada Copyright 1997, 2010 by THE ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL 1107 17th Street, N.W. Suite 250 Washington, D.C. 20036 http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET Suggested citation Fair, J., E. Paul, and J. Jones, Eds. 2010. Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research. Washington, D.C.: Ornithological Council. Revision date August 2010 2 Dedication The Ornithological Council dedicates this 2010 revision to Lewis W. Oring and the late Abbot (Toby) S. Gaunt, whose commitment to the well-being of the birds for whom ornithologists share a deep and abiding concern has served our profession well for so many years. Toby Gaunt Lew Oring Revision date August 2010 3 Acknowledgments and disclaimer Third edition The Ornithological Council thanks the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare of the National Institutes of Health for their financial support for the production of this revision.
    [Show full text]
  • Trapping White Ibises with Rocket Nets and Mist Nets in the Florida Everglades
    J. Field Ornithol. 74(2):187±192, 2003 Trapping White Ibises with rocket nets and mist nets in the Florida Everglades Julie A. Heath1 and Peter C. Frederick Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611 USA Received 30 April 2002; accepted 19 September 2002 ABSTRACT. We lured White Ibises (Eudocimus albus) to trap sites with decoy plastic ¯amingos and captured them with a rocket net or mist nets. Our ability to attract ibises to a site (and consequently our capture success) was affected by vegetation height and water depth but not by decoy numbers or their arrangement. Both the rocket net (37 ibises) and mist nets (97 ibises) caught birds. The number of birds captured per day was the same for both methods, but the rocket net trap captured more birds per set than did mist nets. Because mist nets were easy to reset we captured 1±2 birds per set multiple times in one day with mist nets. We preferred mist nets over rocket net traps because mist nets allowed for shorter bird processing times, greater ease of set up, and fewer safety considerations for transport and operation of the trap. Also, rocket nets required more equipment and expense. Although we discouraged other species from landing at a trap site, there was evidence that these techniques may also be useful for capturing other wading birds. SINOPSIS. Captura de ciguenÄas (Eudocimus albus) con redes de cohetes y redes de niebla en la Florida Atraimos ciguenÄas (Eudocimus albus) a lugares particulares utilizando senÄuelos de ¯amencos para atraparlas con redes de cohetes y con redes de niebla.
    [Show full text]